Your comments and tips

18 May 22, Janet Ann Shpak (Canada - Zone 4b Temperate Warm Summer climate)

Soil Temps have to be pretty high for okra. Is it better to wait until late June to plant in zone 4b?

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22 May 22, Christine (USA - Zone 8a climate)

Yes! Okra is a plant that came from Africa, and needs warm temps to germinate. Here is a little hint…my mother, who was raised on a farm here in Georgia, always soaked her okra seed for 12 to 24 hours in buttermilk. I have always done that as well, and it seems to help the seed sprout quicker. Water May do the same thing and be as effective, but using buttermilk may have some sort of advantage. Plus, it helps me to feel closer to my ancestors. : ). Of course, you may be able to start the seedlings indoors, depending on how many you will be planting.

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22 Feb 22, Manjeet (Australia - temperate climate)

Recipe for okra Okra Wash and dry well, make a cut across the Okra and stuff it with a mixture of Cumin, coriander, Turmeric, chilli, and salt powders. Heat oil in a Vok and fry them till slightly brown. Best eaten with Indian Chapattis or Naan. Do give it a try!

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30 Dec 21, Hetal (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Hi, I am in Tauranga, planted okra and it's flowering this time, should I harvest before flowering or after? Waited after flowering but there is small pod which turned yellow. What is your advice?

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04 Feb 22, John Mauger (Australia - temperate climate)

You would harvest okra pods when they are about 90mm long , after the flower has finished. Getting them going as early as possible in the season is the key to a reasonable harvest in temperate climates.

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07 Jun 21, Tim (USA - Zone 9a climate)

I am in a small garden in zone 9a, has anyone ever planted squash (yellow, zucchini, and patty pan) at the base of okra plants. It is overbearingly hot and sunny on the squash plants and I am trying to use the okra as just a wee bit of extra shade during the hottest part of the day. It also gives me an little "extra veggie" in the okra row. I try to squeeze out every useable square inch in my little garden. Have you ever heard of this being done or has anyone tried it? Good or bad idea? I've looked and I don't see them listed as incompatible or even compatible in the companions listings. Just asking, I'm trying it now, just wanted to see if had been done before. If it works well, I'll let you know, if not and it's a disaster, I'll let you know that too! Tim

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24 Apr 22, Matthew (USA - Zone 8b climate)

Not squash. Squash and zucchini are excellent for promoting nematodes in soil… however these same nematodes that are so beneficial to squash and zucchini feed on okra roots. Okra is an excellent shade-maker for many plants, but sadly, squash isn’t one of them.

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13 Jun 21, Sandra G (USA - Zone 10b climate)

It’s not a good idea because zucchini takes up a lot of space at the bottom, and the roots will compete for space, I’ve grown okra and it needs space and sun to produce. Why not grow zucchini in the middle of any plant that will get burned by the summer heat, if you cut the bottom layers of the zucchini and put sticks to train it up, it’ll provide shade for lettuce, celery, anything that can grow in partial shade, zucchini can be used as an umbrella with plenty of room to plant on the ground around it.

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01 Jun 21, G'Day Farm (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

We start seeds in early august in the green house. They need around 27C to sprout. We transplant out in late September. We have been saving our own seeds, however our first batch of seeds came from Boondie Seeds. They have heirloom seeds so they are ideal for saving. Personally I prefer the Clemson Spineless as they seem to be more prolific with pod production. The others tend to just produce amazing looking leafy plants, but not as prolific pod wise.

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23 Mar 21, Garry Moylan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Where can I buy seeds and what is the best time to plant - thank you

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